Spelling variations of this family name include: Gallego, Gallegos and others.

First found in Galicia, in the northwestern region of the Iberian peninsula.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Among the early explorers of the New World was Pedro Gallegos, one of the conquistadors of New Granada. He founded the city of San Bonifacio de Ibagué in 1550. Other migrants included Alonso Gallego, who sailed to America in 1512.

Mario Gallegos Jr. (1950-2012), American Democratic politician, Member of the Texas Senate from the 6th district (1995-2012)

Tony E Gallegos, American government official

Luisa Gallegos (b. 1929), Cuban-born, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher and infielder, honored with a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York

Martin Gallegos (1994-2000), American politician, California State Assemblyman, 57th District

Rómulo Gallegos (1884-1969), former President of Venezuela and author of the renowned novel "Doña Bárbara"

THE REGIONS OF SPAIN

Aragon, which is a region of northeastern Spain in the Iberian peninsula. Aragon has a proud cultural heritage and its own unique language. In 1137, the regions of Aragon and Catalonia united to form the Crown of Aragon, whose illustrious line of kings led the reconquest of the eastern peninsula from the Muslims. The Crown of Aragon extended its Mediterranean empire with the recapture of Mallorca in 1229 and Sicily in 1282 and it remained an important power throughout the Middle Ages. In 1469, King Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile and this union brought together the two most powerful kingdoms of Spain to create a united Spanish nation.

THE MOORS

Following the decline of the Roman Empire, in the 5th century AD, the Visigoths came to control the peninsula. Part of the Visigothic legacy to Spanish civilization was the introduction of the institution of monarchy. Several centuries later, in 711, the Visigothic kingdom in Spain was invaded by Muslims. Aside from a nucleus of resistance which was maintained in the north, the Muslim victory was complete by the year 718.

SPAIN

Spain, which is presently a state that includes the Balearic and Canary Islands and is in southwestern Europe, was originally settled by the Iberians. In the first millennium BC, the Celts, who were from central Europe, invaded and began to mingle with the native Iberians. Later, Greeks and Carthaginians colonized the coasts; however, they were replaced by the Romans by the 3rd century BC.